Grants for students: eligibility conditions, social considerations, and award amounts
Title: How to Apply for and Understand the Higher Education Student Grant (BCS) in France
Table of Contents
- What are the Criteria for BCS Allocation in 2025 and Beyond?
- Eligibility Income Limit for Social Criteria Grant 2025-2026
- Amount of CROUS Grant in the 2025-2026 Academic Year
- Submitting Your Application for the BCS in 2024-2025
- Applying for a University Grant: A Step-by-Step Guide
- How to Apply for CROUS Housing
- Contacting the CROUS Grant Service for Changes in Circumstances
- FAQs and Additional Resources
What are the Criteria for BCS Allocation in 2025 and Beyond?
To qualify for the Higher Education Student Grant (BCS) based on social criteria, students must meet certain conditions related to their studies, income, age, and nationality.
Diploma Condition
This financial aid is awarded to students enrolled in initial training, either in France or in another member country of the European Union, within a public or private educational institution authorized to receive scholarship holders.
Age-related Condition
The BCS is reserved for students under 28 years of age on the date of their first grant application. This age limit may vary depending on certain situations, such as military service, civic service, disabilities, and having children.
Nationality Condition
Additional conditions apply to students who are not French citizens. For instance, citizens of European Economic Area countries, Swiss, or Andorran must have a paid or unpaid job in France, or prove that one of their parents has earned income in France.
Eligibility Income Limit for Social Criteria Grant 2025-2026
The amount of income you can earn to still be eligible for a social criteria grant for the 2025-2026 academic year has not been specified. However, an online simulator, provided by CROUS, can help you determine whether you can benefit from this scholarship based on your income.
Amount of CROUS Grant in the 2025-2026 Academic Year
The BCS is divided into eight levels, and the amount awarded depends on the student's level, which is communicated in the scholarship allocation decision. The grant amount for a student in higher education for the 2025-2026 academic year is not specified in the provided sources.
Submitting Your Application for the BCS in 2024-2025
Students can apply for the BCS by creating their student social file (DSE) online during the period between March 1 and May 31, 2024. The following documents should be attached to the application:
- Tax notices from the previous year for the student and their parents.
- Enrollment and siblings' enrollment certificates if students have siblings who are also students.
- A copy of the divorce judgment for students whose parents are divorced.
- A certificate from the relevant organization for students covered by social assistance for children.
- A Pôle Emploi certificate for students registered with Pôle Emploi who do not receive any allowance.
- An honor statement from the student's parents declaring whether they receive foreign income and its amount.
These documents can be submitted electronically via the meservices.etudiant.gouv.fr website.
Applying for a University Grant: A Step-by-Step Guide
To apply for a university grant, students must follow these steps:
- First, constitute their student social file (DSE) online.
- Submit the required documents: a. Tax notices from the previous year for the student and their parents. b. Proof of enrollment and enrollment certificates for siblings. c. A copy of the divorce judgment for students whose parents are divorced. d. Additional documents depending on the student's situation (certificate from the relevant organization, Pôle Emploi certificate, or honor statement).
- Submit the completed application via the meservices.etudiant.gouv.fr website.
- Once the application is submitted, check your email for a confirmation message.
- By the end of July at the latest, a conditional notification of agreement or refusal of the scholarship will be sent to you. The final decision occurs after enrollment in the university.
How to Apply for CROUS Housing
Scholarship students can apply for CROUS housing by visiting the trouverunlogement.lescrous.fr website. They can view the details of available housing, including size, type of cohabitation, rent, and equipment. After submitting their application, they will receive an immediate response. It is possible to submit preferences starting May 6 for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Contacting the CROUS Grant Service for Changes in Circumstances
The student should inform the CROUS of any permanent change in their or their family's circumstances, such as marriage, death, or divorce. They can contact the CROUS via the Bourses et aides financières (DSE) service by phone from 9:00 to 17:00 at 09 72 59 65 00, or schedule an appointment online on the CROUS platform.
FAQs and Additional Resources
Q: Can I still apply for the BCS if I am not a legal resident of France?A: No, the BCS is only available to legal residents of France.
Q: Is it possible to receive the merit aid and specific temporary aid from the CROUS alongside the BCS?A: Yes, the BCS can be combined with the merit aid and specific temporary aid from the CROUS.
Q: Can I still have the BCS if I have a part-time job?A: Yes, nationality conditions for students from outside the European Economic Area, Switzerland, and Andorra include having a part-time paid or unpaid job in France.
Footnotes:[1] http://www.etudes-en-pedagogie.com/bourses-et-aides-financieres/aides-grants/la-bourses-de-l-etudiant-en-pedagogie-bep/[2] https://www.primadelain.fr/ressources/bourses-et-aides-financieres/bourses-en-pedagogie/page/2/[3] https://www.lesetudiant.fr/info/aide-aux-etudes/bourses/dans-quels-cas-obtenir-le-bep/[4] https://www.boursescholarships.com/bourses/bourses-cours-complet/bourses-en-france/bourses-universite-france/bourses-pedagogie/boursiers-et-aides-financieres-bep/
To manage your personal-finance and education-and-self-development more effectively, consider learning about the Higher Education Student Grant (BCS) in France. This crucial financial aid for students includes the budget allocated for education, such as the BCS and CROUS grants. To be eligible for the BCS based on social criteria, you must meet certain conditions related to your studies, income, age, and nationality. Your income limit for social criteria grant 2025-2026 has not been specified, but you can use an online simulator provided by CROUS to determine your eligibility. Simultaneously, you can improve your financial literacy by learning how to apply for these grants, which involves creating a student social file (DSE), submitting required documents, and monitoring your application status.
